Starring
Dan Stevens, Berennice Maylohe, Tygo Gernandt, Charity Wakefield, Baz
Keijzer, Mike Libanon, Mike Reus. Directed by TimSmiT. (2017, 92
min).
Kill
Switch is conceptually intriguing, but questionably executed.
In
the near future, the Alterplex corporation has developed and built a
massive device that will provide unlimited energy to the world. It
does this by sucking energy from The Echo, a mirror universe
created by the machine. When this begins to trigger bizarre interdimensional disasters, NASA
pilot Will Porter (Dan Stevens) is recruited to travel into The Echo
and close the link between both worlds using a black box called the Redivider. This will also destroy The Echo, but failure to do
so will result in the end of both worlds. However, even though
The Echo is supposed to be devoid of biological life, people
identical to those in the real world exist there and
understandably don't relish the thought of extinction.
 |
| "What? You're not the Ghostbusters?? |
It
will come as no surprise that director/producer TimSmiT's background
is in CG special effects, which he created for this film as well.
Considering the film's limited budget, Kill Switch is visually impressive, with boats and railroad cars falling from the
sky and deadly police drones patrolling the city. However, while the ramifications of multidimensional interaction is a concept just begging to be explored, everything takes a backseat to barrages of
gunfire and explosions.
Fans of Stevens will also be disappointed to
learn he only appears onscreen in flashback sequences, which are periodically dispersed throughout the film to provide exposition
(including a pointless subplot involving his sister and her troubled
son). The rest of plays like a first-person shooter video
game, shown entirely from Porter's point of view. While initially
interesting, the gimmick is nothing new and grows tiresome after awhile.
As
it is, Kill Switch certainly watchable. It seldom
slows down for a minute and boasts enough mayhem to please
undemanding action fans. But by choosing spectacle over substance,
it's also a missed opportunity. With a concept like that, our brains should be as engaged as our eyes.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
FEATURETTE:
"The Visual Effect: Inside the Director's
Process"
AUDIO
COMMENTARY
DIGITAL
COPY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...BUT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
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